User's Manual
DOC-13000 Rev. E 3–9
Connex500/350 User Guide
Preparing Files for Use with Connex 3-D Printing Systems
BeforeusingfileswithConnex3‐Dprintingsystems,youmustconvert
theminyourCADprogramtoeitherSTLfilesorSLCfiles.(Foran
explanationofthesefileformats,see“SourceFiles”onpage 3 ‐4.)
Afterconvertingthemodelfiles,itisrecommendedthatyoucheckthemfor
defectsinanSTL‐repairapplica
tion(suchasMagics,byMaterialise)before
openingtheminObjetStudioandproducingthemodel.
Converting
CAD Files to
STL Format
Thisproceduremayvaryslightly,dependingontheCADsoftwareused,
butthefollowinginstructionsgenerallyapply.
To convert a file to STL format (in a CAD program):
1. FromtheFilemenu,selectSave As.
2. Inthe
Save Asdialogbox,opentheSave As Typepull‐downmenuand
select
*.STL.
3. Click
Optionsandsetthefollowingparameters:
• TotalQuality—approximately0.1mm(deviationtolerance/linear‐
dimensiontolerance)
• DetailQuality—approximately4°(angletolerance)
Note: Lowering these values produces more accurate models, but
results in larger files and longer loading and processing times. For this
reason, it is generally not recommended that you use lower values.
4. Inthefileformatoption,choosebinaryorASCII.(Bothbinaryand
ASCIIformatscanbeusedinObjetStudio.However,binaryfilesare
smaller,sothisoptionisrecommended.)
5. Click
OKorSave.
Converting
Files to SLC
Format
WhenconvertingfilestoSLCformat,itisrecommendedthatyousetalayer
thicknessof15microns(0.015mm).SinceSLCfilescannotbeorientatedin
ObjetStudio,itisimportantthatmodelsareproperlyorientatedbefore
beingsavedasSLCfiles.Considerationsforsuitablemodelorientationare
explainedin“M
odelOrient
ation”onpage 5‐18.